'Mary' Controversy: Netflix seems to have come under social media fire for its upcoming film, 'Mary', which is a Biblical epic starring Anthony Hopkins, among other big names. The film seeks to retell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, Netflix said while announcing the release date of the film and its trailer. 'Mary' releases on December 6, and according to Netflix, it will "through Mary’s eyes" tell "the story of one of history’s most profound figures and the remarkable journey that led to the birth of Jesus".
What has not gone down well with many is the choice of the actor cast for the titular role of Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. The actor, 21-year-old Noa Cohen, happens to be a Jewish-Israeli who has now caused an Internet meltdown with social media users calling for a boycott of the film, which casts several other Israeli actors too, including Ido Tako, Ori Pfeffer, Keren Tzur, Hilla Vidor, and Mili Avital. Ido Tako plays Joseph, father of Christ.
Since its launch, the 'Mary' trailer has drawn criticism for more than one reasons. The OTT giant has not only been criticised for casting all White actors in a story that is set in the Middle East, but also for choosing Israelis who reject Jesus Christ. One section is also accusing Netflix of erasing the Palestenian roots of the characters.
Check out some of the reactions on social media.
What Is The Story Of 'Mary' On Netflix?
DJ Caruso is the director of 'Mary', which has been produced by Mary Aloe and written by Timothy Michael Hayes. While the story of the birth of Jesus Christ is known to all, and remembered every Christmas, 'Mary' seeks to tell the journey of Jesus's birth through the eyes of his mother.
'Mary' is the the story of one of the most revered figures in history and the journey that culminates in the birth of Jesus. The film will show how, Mary, who had been chosen to bring the Messiah into the world, faced ostracism following her miraculous conception and had to go into hiding. As King Herod, played by Anthony Hopkins, launched a deadly pursuit of her newborn child, Mary and Joseph embarked on a perilous journey — driven by faith and unwavering courage — to protect their son at all costs.
Netflix claims director Aloe and the filmmaking team collaborated with religious scholars and leaders from diverse backgrounds to faithfully recreate Mary’s world and bring a fresh focus to the experience of Mary of Nazareth.
'Mary' Director DJ Caruso Defends Casting Israeli Actors
Caruso has called the film a “coming of age” story, and described Mary as a “smart, strong-willed young woman facing monumental challenges: overcoming social stigma, evading a jealous king and bearing the weight of a world-changing destiny”.
The film has a number of Israeli actors playing different roles. Cohen, who plays Mary, had earlier worked in the series, Northern Storm, or 8200, which was about the famous intelligence unit of the Israel Defense Force. She is said to be from Hod HaSharon town in central Israel. Ido Tako plays Joseph, and Ori Pfeffer has been cast as Joachim.
Caruso has explained why he chose Israeli actors for the film.
"It was important to us that Mary, along with most of our primary cast, be selected from Israel to ensure authenticity," he told Entertainment Weekly.
About Noa, he said they had auditioned nearly 75 young women before selecting the Northern Storm actor. "Noa has a unique blend of grace and presence that is striking, yet she remains approachable, able to access the deep emotional core of Mary's character," Caruso said. "Her ability to convey both vulnerability and strength was exactly what we needed for this role."
Full Cast Of Netflix Film 'Mary'
- Noa Cohen as Mary
- Ido Tako as Joseph
- Anthony Hopkins as King Herod
- Stephanie Nur as Salome
- Susan Brown as Anna the Prophetess
- Ori Pfeffer as Joachim
- Eamon Farren as Satan
- Hilla Vidor as Anne
- Mili Avital as Mariamne
- Gudmundur Thorvaldsson as Marcellus
- Dudley O’Shaughnessy as Gabriel
- Keren Tzur as Elizabeth
- Mehmet Kurtulus as Bava Ben Buta
- Mila Harris as young Mary